News

Support for Caregivers Making a Difference for Families in Burlington

Ontario Funding Respite Services to Help Families Care for Loved Ones

This year, Ontario increased supports for people caring for their loved ones at home in Burlington, by increasing access to respite services for 150 local families.

Today — on National Family Caregiver Day — Honourable Eleanor McMahon, MPP Burlington is thanking people in Burlington for the work they do every day to care for their loved ones. A caregiver is someone who takes on the unpaid role of helping a family member or loved one with their physical or cognitive condition, injury or chronic life-limiting illness.

For Burlington, investments from the province have allowed the HNHB Community Care Access Centre to expand their supports for families, helping them to continue to care for loved ones at home.

Sarah,* a Burlington resident with ALS, depends on her husband John* for just about everything. He provides her personal care, helping her get out of bed and dressed each morning, and doing the reverse at night. He prepares all of their meals, helps to feed her, cares for their apartment, and manages all other aspects of their life together. He plans his respite time each week with great precision in order to fit in other important things such as grocery shopping and appointments, and some days, has time for a coffee with a friend. This time is vital to his own health and well-being so that he can support Sarah to remain living in their home, where she is most comfortable.

Ontario’s support has allowed for approximately 600,000 additional hours of respite services for caregivers across the province this year.

Supporting patients and their caregivers is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care. This plan is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that’s sustainable for generations to come.

QUOTES

“Improving home and community care is one of our government’s most important health care priorities. Informal caregivers, like family members and friends, contribute to more than seventy per cent of their loved ones’ caregiving needs, and we know how stressful that can be. We want to ensure caregivers are supported and able to take rests from providing care to their loved ones.”

— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“I understand the important role that home care providers play for their loved ones and am pleased with the steps that our government has taken taken to ensure Burlington residents and their caregivers receive the care and support they need. I would like to thank our community caregivers for their endless compassion and dedication to the daily needs of others.”

— Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

“The role of a caregiver is important and often challenging. We want to ensure caregivers are getting the support they need so they can take care of their loved ones, and their own health and well-being. On National Family Caregiver Day, we recognize the selfless dedication of caregivers and their significant contributions to the lives of their loved ones and say thank you.”

— Indira Naidoo-Harris, MPP Halton

“Caregivers, like John in Burlington, are benefitting from the provincial government’s increased investments in home and community care. Supporting caregivers remains a priority for the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN and we are pleased that many individuals throughout our communities are receiving the support they need so they can continue caring for their loved ones at home.”

QUICK FACTS

The province has invested $2,084,300 in 2016-17 to better support caregivers in HNHB LHIN.

Ontario invested $100 million last year to enhance support for home care clients with high needs and their caregivers.

The investment provided $80 million to support enhanced care for clients who are most in need and $20 million for caregiver respite, allowing caregivers who need it the most to take rests from providing care to their loved ones.

Through consultations with people in Ontario and members of Ontario's Patient and Caregiver Advisory Table, the province recently established a Statement of Home and Community Care Values. This Statement reflects the needs and priorities of home and community care clients and their caregivers and ensures their values are reflected in the care they receive.